We’ve all heard tales of huge online companies trying to use our knowledge for profit. We scoff at Facebook or Instagram when they update their privacy settings and get creeped out when Gmail gives us ads for things we’re discussing with our friends.

Google and the World Brain, a new documentary by Ben Lewis, is about that but on an even more frightening scale. It focuses on Google Books, and the company’s attempt to complie the entire printed history of the world into a single database. That sounds like a noble and worthwhile cause but, after watching Google and the World Brain, you might think otherwise. You might think Google has an agenda worthy of Dr. Evil. Read More »

The 2013 Sundance Film Festival begins next week and Russ Fischer, Peter Sciretta (for a bit), and I will be on the ground to bring you info on all of the movies to look out for throughout the rest of 2013. One of the many selections that jumps out when reading about the program at Sundance is Google and the World Brain. Directed by Ben Lewis, the film chronicles Google’s attempt to scan and input every single book ever written into one database. It’s a project that’s been going on for 10 years and it poses some very big questions, which may have disturbing answers.